By Luke Voogt
Pfizer jabs will open to under 40s at Norlane’s vaccination hub tomorrow following state-wide changes announced today.
Locals aged 16-18 will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, while those aged 18-59 can choose either Pfizer or AstraZeneca, subject to limited supplies of Pfizer.
“We remind the community, that the best vaccine is the one you can get today,” Barwon South West Public Health Unit director Eugene Athan said.
“This week the Barwon South West Public Health Unit is providing over 20,000 doses of vaccine across the region.”
Pfizer is only available by booking, with no walk-ins for the general population, while bookings are preferred for AstraZeneca.
“Our community vaccination hub has seen strong demand from people aged 18-39 over the past week,” Professor Athan said.
“As we continue to add more appointments to the booking system, we hope this demand continues as more vaccination doses are added each week.”
Those over 60 will continue to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.
State government today announced 830,000 appointments would become available over the next four weeks at state-run hubs like the former Ford factory in Norlane, including 450,000 for Pfizer first doses.
The expansion followed Victoria receiving another 175,000 doses of Pfizer from the Commonwealth, after they recently arrived from overseas.
Doses in the Barwon South West region surpassed 188,000 today, up 4000 on 184,000 yesterday.
More than a third of Geelong locals over 15 were fully-vaccinated (38.6 per cent) as of Sunday, while 61.4 per cent had received their first dose, according to the latest Commonwealth health data.
Pfizer has a 95 per cent efficacy according to Australian Government Department of Health, while AstraZeneca’s efficacy is 81 per cent.
AstraZeneca has a two-to-three in 100,000 chance of causing blood clots in people under 60, a much lower chance than they have of developing blood clots from the contraceptive pill or COVID-19 itself.
To book, phone 1800 675 398 or book online at portal.cvms.vic.gov.au
